Combined aeroplane and dirigible balloon.



l W. E. ZBLLS. COMBINED AEROPLANE AND DIRIGIBLE BIILLOON, APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25, 1911. @1 9,579. I Patented Mar. 5, 1912.

4 SHEETS-TSHEET 2.

ATTORNEYS AW. E. ZELLS. GIOMBINED AEROPLANE AND'DIRIGIBLE BALLOON.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25, 1911.

Patented Mar. 5, 1912.

L-mvm, v

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

l:alim/5.52958 W. E. zELLs. COMBINED AEROPLANE AND DIRIGIBLE BALLOON.

APPLICATION FILED FBB.25, 1911.

Patented Mar. 5, 1915 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Anon/vers WALTER EDWARD ZELLS., OF ANN ABBOR, MICHIGAN.

CQMBINEDAEROPLANE AND DIRIGIBLE i'sannooiv.

. To all whom it may concern.;

Be it known that l, VALTERl E. ZELLS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Ann Arbor, in the county of \1Vashtenaw and State of Michigan, have invented a new and Improved Combined Aeroplane and Dirigible Balloon, of which the followingl is a full, clear', and exact description.

Among the principal obJects which the present invention has in view are: To provide in a machine of the character mentioned I a iexible connection between the carrying frame and the air floated body; t-o provide- Aan air floated body adapted to balance the weight of the carrying frame and load finountedl thereon; to provide a harness for the floating body adapted to maintain the shape or form thereof and to prevent chaiing or wearupon the. body thereof; and to provide a construction and arrangement of planes and means for controlling the same to change the vertical and horizontal disposition of the machine,

One embodiment of the present invention is ,disclosed in. the structure illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like charactersy of` reference denote corresponding parts in all the views, and in which- Figure 1 is a vertical section of a coin- `bined aeroplane and dirigible balloon constructed and arranged in.accordance with the present invention, the section being taken -on the line 1-1` in Fig. 2; Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the carrying frame and planes connected therewith, the position of the balloon body being indicated by` dotted lines; Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 3-3 in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a detail view showing the arran ement of the-l steering rmechanism for li ting the. machine or changing the horizontal path thereof; and Fig. 5is a detail view in perspective of the mechanism for changing the angle of inci- 4dence of the carrying planes of the aeroplane. I Y

In the accompanying drawings the carrying frame provided to support the engine 10 is formed of a skeleton-like struct-ure having side bars 11 and a dropped truss frame 12. The frame 12 is suitably reinforced, as shown best in Figs. 1and 2 of the drawings. The engine is suitably braced in position, and is carried by means of the arms 13 upon the side bars 11. Forward of the engine, and

'dropped below theside bars 11, there is disposed a platform 14 upon which is mounted specification of Letters Patent.

-rateatea Mar. 5,1912.

. Application filed February 25, 19T-1'. Serial No. 610,674.

14. also provides a mounting for the tillen posts 18 and 19. It is by the manipulation of the posts 18 and 19 and the lever 17 that the planes and rudders attached to the carrying frame are shifted to vary the path or to levitate the machine.

The engine 10'is provided with a driving shaft 20,- at the end whereof is mounted an aeio propeller 21. The propeller 21 is suitably mounted in bearings 22 and is surrounded by a protecting frame 23. rl`he frame 23 is extended perpendicular to the side barsl l1 and yis reinforced by guy bars 24.

The frame consisting of the side bars 11 is carried on wheels 25, and 26, 26. The wheel 25 is mounted in the tincsof a yoke 27, the yoke being formed at the end of a pivot post 28. The pivot post 28 is pivotally mounted in the frame and is reinforced in vertical po-v si'tion by a brace b'ar 29. This structure provides for the wheel 25 operating as a caster wheel to drag in harmony with the machine when the same pivots on the wheels 26, 26.

The frame 11, machinery carried thereby,

land the aviator orpassengers are normally supported by the elongated gas bag 30. The

gas bag 30 is constructed in any approvedthe engine 10 and the carrying frame. Forv this purpose the yoke 35'is provided, the ends whereof are pivotally connected with the side extension pins 36.` It will .be noted that the connection of the mast 35 with the eyelet bar 33 permits a lateral swing of either the gas bag 30 or the carrying frame. Also it will be noticed that by reason of the pivotal connection of the arms of the yoke 35 with the pins 36 the carrying frame is permit-ted a longitudinal swing or vibration.

The extent of the longitudinal vibration of the carrying frame relative to the gas bag is controlled by guy cables 37, 38 and 39, 39. Thev cables 37 and 3S connect the carrying frame at the ends thereof with the keel brace 31. The ends of the cables 39, 39 are anchored to the extremes. ofthe truss brace 32 and to eyelets 40 on Opposite sides of the mast 34. v The cables 37, 38 and 39 are each divided, the sections thereof being connected by spiral springs 41. rIhis construction of the cables provides a resiliency in the connection between the carrying frame and the gas bag 30 which avoids any tearing strain being exerted upon the relatively-fragile structure of the bag. Y The bag I v30 is harnessed to the brace 32'by means of canvasstraps 42..` Y

The bag ismaintained, when inflated or deflated, by the keel brace 31. To, produce va non-tearing member I have provided the conical caps 43 disposed within the bag and suitably 'secured to the said keel brace.

To the caps is also secured the framing strap'44. The strap 44 is constructed of any -suitable material, such Yas aluminium..

To thev strap 44 andthe keel brace 31 is secured the strap 42.

To operate the engine 10 a supply of gasolene or other fuel is carried 1n tanks The tanks 45 are preferably suspended above the engine on the mast 34.. For this purlypose'the Outrigger arms 40 areprovided.

' As above stated, the bag 30,-when in-V Hated, has a ,Hotation' power suHicient to v balance .thegravity of the carrying frame and load carried. thereby, inclusive of ,the`

aviator. The `machine israised and lowered, or guided tothe right or left,y by -planes pivotallymounted on the carrying frame vand by a rudder 47. The. rudder 47 is mounted onthe frame 23, and is controlled ybya cable'v 48, the ends -whereof are connected by means of'eyelets 49 at, opposite sides of the rudder. The cable 48 is reeved over sheaves 50 to guide. the said cable to a. drum 51 upon. which the said cable is wound. (See Fig. 4 of the drawings.) The Adrum 51. is Hxedly mountedon theftiller post 18,L as lis also a hand wheel52.. The

' tille'r posts 18 and 19 are suitably mounted on the platform 14 ,convenient to the hand of the aviator. In the preferred construction the tiller post L18 is a hollow tube throu hv which 1s extended the tiller post 19, a drum 53 being HXedly mounted on the said post 19 below the post 18, while the hand wheelv 54, which is Hxedly mounted on the post 19 is extended above the hand wheel 52' but adjacent thereto. The two wheels being .ths stationed facilitate the 4handling cof the machine by the aviator.

The manipulation ofthe wheel 52 effects the rudder 47 the manipulation of the wheel 54 effects the .levitating planey 55. The levitating plane 55 is pivotally mounted at 56 on a standing frame 57. In the normal position the levitating plane is horizontal, or

n parallel with the carrying' frame, as shown in Fig.' 1 ofthe drawings. To each side y ters Patent is of the pivot are connected the ends of a controlling cable 58, the said cable being wound upon the drum 53, as shown' in Fig. 4 of the drawings. It will be seen that by manipulatingthe wheels 52 and 54 the rudderv 47 and the plane 55 may be changedto right or left, and vertically,respectively, to'

alter the course of Hight of the machine.

.It is to assist the bag 30 that Ihave provided the carrying 'planes 59. The planes 59 are extendedv laterally from the machine and the carrying frame thereof. rlhe planes are mounted on a shaft 60 which is pivotally mounted in bearings 61 provided inthe carrying frame. The planes are raised and lowered at the rear, and at theedge removed from the .shaft 60, by rocking the shaft 62.

The shaftA 62 is mounted in suitable bearings in the truss frame 12, and 'has fi'xedly connected' therewith the lever arms 63. The lever arms 63 are connected by means of pitmen 64 with the planes 59.

The shaft 62 is' rocked by manipulating.

the lever 17. The lever 17 is connected by -means of a reach bar 65 with a leverarm 66, which is fixedly mounted and centrally disposed upon the shaft 62. As seen best in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the lever 17 is provided with a hand grip detent 67 of usual construction, the ,boltwhereof engages a quadrant, shown in said vFig. 1 concentric with the bearing '16. i'

When land as the will be depressed or raised. When depressed below the horizontal the incline of Vthe planes, as in the 4ordinary aeroplane, will` lift the machine vertically. When, how'y ever, the planes 59 are raised above the horizontal, the operation of the planes upon theair through whichthe machine is moving is lever 17 is shifted tothe i .front or rear of the machine the vplanes 59 to depress the machine. The operation, liftas shown in the accompanying drawings,

there is produced an airshiphavinfr the qualities of safety, of a balloon and the A,qualities of facility in operation together with speed of an aeroplane.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letl. In a combined. aeroplane and dirigible balloon, an aeroplane carrying frame comprising a L.skeleton frame; a motor iixedly mounted therein, said motorA being provided with pivot pins; and a supporting mast pivotally connected with said pinsV andA ex-` tended above the said motor andl carrying frame to be pivotally connected With said balloon.

f2. In a combined aeroplane and dirigible balloon, ,an aeroplane carrying `frame com prising a skeleton frame; a motor fixedly mounted therein, said motor being provided With pivot pins disposed at near the balanc ing center'thereoif'; and a supporting mast pivotally connected'v'vith said pins and extended above the said motor and carrying frame to be pivotally connected With saidl balloon.

3. In a combined aeroplane and dirigible balloon, an aeroplane-carrying frame coniprising a skeleton frame; a motor ixedly mounted therein, 'said motor being provided with pivot pins; a supporting mast pivotally connected With said pins and extended above the said motor and carrying frame `to be pivotally connected with said balloon; a plurality of elongated. cylindrical pointed fuel containing tanks, said tanks being disposed in parallel arrangement to said carrying frame; and a plurality of outri'gger arms for'supporting in laterally extended position from said mast the said tanks..

4. In a combined aeroplane and dirigible balloon, an aeroplane carryingframe comprising a skeleton frame; a motor lixedly mounted therein, said motor being provided with pivot pins; a supporting mast pivotally connected Wit-h said pinsand extended Vabove the said motor and carrying frame to be pivotally connected with said balloon; and a plurality of fuel carrying tanks mountedon said vmast above said motor.

In a combined 'aeroplane and dirigible balloon, an aeroplane carrying frame comi'lpgising askeleton AIframe; a motor xedly Viiirli'iiited therein, said motor being provided Witlr pivot pins a supporting mast pivot'ally connected with said-pins and extended above the said motor and carrying frame to be `pivotally cgnnected With said balloon; a plurality of fuel carrying elongated tanks; and a plurality of Outrigger supports for said tanks suitably mounted on said mast to balance said tanks.

6. In a machinev of the character described, in combination, an aeroplane; a balloonsiipportinglyv attached to said aeroplane nor? mally to fioat the same and the load carried thereby; levitating planes pivotally mounted on said aeroplane and extended laterally; therefrom; a manually operated mechanism for varying the angle of incidence of 'said planes to decrease and 'augment the pulling Weight on said balloon; a levitating rudder pivotally mounted in transverse bearings in the forvvardpart oit said aeroplane; a diverging rudder mounted in vertical bearings at the' rear of said aeroplane; a tubular tiller post having a hand Wheel and a Winding drum; a tiller post rod extended -rom said tubular post and provided with a hand wheel adjacent the hand Wheel on said tubula-i` 

